· PB Works is an online website that allows people To create a secure workspace for collaboration. · PB Works is a way to create Wiki websites that can be edited and viewed from any computer with an internet connection. · Text, images and videos can be uploaded to the Wiki Pages. · Each Wiki page keeps a log of past updates.
Advantages of the tool
The collaborative nature of PB Works makes it a good place for students to work on group projects outside of the classroom. The teacher acts as the administrator and can add students, parents, and other teachers as editors, writers, readers, and page level viewers. As editors and writers, it is an effective way for the students to work actively on projects. As readers of what other students and people have done, it enhances their view of the way that other students might work together and could give them ideas about how they wanted to interact. It is a timely, efficient manner for them to get work done quickly and input data or information as soon as they have it so that others can see it.
Disadvantages (limitations) of the tool
Each collaborator has to have a PB Works account in order to participate in a private site unless they all use the same username and password, but the administrator can invite writers to join them through email. Another disadvantage is that PBWorks is asynchronous so users cannot see what others are doing at the exact moment that they are working, they have to keep refreshing the page or check back later.
Application of the tool in your subject area
One way that PB Works could be used in a high school French classroom is as a communication device to increase the students’ use of the language. For example, students could be assigned to make posts to the workspace a certain number of times per week. After viewing each others’ posts students could either respond to what others have written or add a new topic or piece of interest of their own. The teacher’s role would be to provide starter topics for students to write and post links about as well as to assess the quality and content of what each student is contributing to the workspace. By allowing students more freedom in what they post about they will be learning the vocabulary that they would actually want to use in daily conversation.
Communication Tool:
Group Members: Katie Milne and Rebecca JohnstoneScreenshot or Logo:
Brief introduction of the tool
· PB Works is an online website that allows people To create a secure workspace for collaboration.
· PB Works is a way to create Wiki websites that can be edited and viewed from any computer with an internet connection.
· Text, images and videos can be uploaded to the Wiki Pages.
· Each Wiki page keeps a log of past updates.
- Advantages of the tool
The collaborative nature of PB Works makes it a good place for students to work on group projects outside of the classroom. The teacher acts as the administrator and can add students, parents, and other teachers as editors, writers, readers, and page level viewers. As editors and writers, it is an effective way for the students to work actively on projects. As readers of what other students and people have done, it enhances their view of the way that other students might work together and could give them ideas about how they wanted to interact. It is a timely, efficient manner for them to get work done quickly and input data or information as soon as they have it so that others can see it.- Disadvantages (limitations) of the tool
Each collaborator has to have a PB Works account in order to participate in a private site unless they all use the same username and password, but the administrator can invite writers to join them through email. Another disadvantage is that PBWorks is asynchronous so users cannot see what others are doing at the exact moment that they are working, they have to keep refreshing the page or check back later.Application of the tool in your subject area
One way that PB Works could be used in a high school French classroom is as a communication device to increase the students’ use of the language. For example, students could be assigned to make posts to the workspace a certain number of times per week. After viewing each others’ posts students could either respond to what others have written or add a new topic or piece of interest of their own. The teacher’s role would be to provide starter topics for students to write and post links about as well as to assess the quality and content of what each student is contributing to the workspace. By allowing students more freedom in what they post about they will be learning the vocabulary that they would actually want to use in daily conversation.
Find a tutorial video on YouTube
Useful Resources
For a teacher's experiences with Wikispaces vs. PBWorks and her opinions: http://mrmansour.com/Blog/?p=251
For more video tutorials of how to use PBWorks: http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/pbworks/index.html
For some of the specific education benefits of PBWorks: http://pbworks.com/content/edu+features
For FAQ about wikis (specifically PB Works): http://www.snlonline.net/Faculty/pbworksResources.asp